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Articles by Wayne Stewart

Last time we looked at 1 Cor.2:1-9. The passages have many applications and we can learn so much about ideas related to the wisdom of this world and its limitations. However, we need now to look at the more precise context of these passages if we are to understand the intent of the author and gain from them (the passages) what doctrine God intended to pass on to the believers lest we confound those things that differ. What "mystery" is Paul referring to? Those who deny the truth of the great divide of Acts 28 and its impact on the understanding of Paul's Acts books will also...

If it ain't broke don't fix it! This applies to many practical day to day life experiences we encounter -- the lawnmower, the fridge, the car etc. On the other hand if your car is sounding like a bloated cow then you may need to take notice and do something about it!

Professing Christianity has a problem. On the one hand it professes a "great commission" that includes signs and wonders yet when we look for these signed miracles we come up empty handed. Wouldn't it be more sensible to admit there is a problem and find out the root reason for the disparity...

Last time we looked at the wisdom of God and discovered that the book of Corinthians had a high density of words with the stem σοφ, found in words like sophia.

If you are interested in the subject of wisdom then the book of 1 Corinthians is a great place to start. It is also instructive to note that the second to last book on the list of high density wisdom books is the prison epistle of PAul, Colosiians. We reviewed our age and the surpassing riches lavashed on us by Christ and the wisdom that has been sent (apostled) to us through the prison ministry of...

Last time we looked at the topic of Baptism and noted that Paul did indeed baptize in the Acts period but this was not what he was called to major on. The fact that he baptized so few gave Paul occassion to thank God because it would reduce the chance that any could say that he baptized in his own name. Paul did not separate his essential message from that of the others. Unity is what he was after, in this state there could be much productive ministry. We finished woith a comment about vs 18 where the structure of the vesre brings out the comparison between foolishness and...

Last time we looked at the logic of Paul's ministry and also his statement that Christ sent him "not to baptize". There is a wrong syllogism that many who promote a mid-Acts start for the sussoma use and which can only be rectified by accepting the clear Acts 28 divide that the Holy Spirit has recorded for us in the scriptures.

We will now continue with some more truths from the scriptures concerning baptism, connections and dissimilarities which point the way to more light and understanding both of the Mystery and the times of Messiah Isa.33:6.

Last week we discussed the problem of divisions that developed in the Corinthian assembly under the context of a ministry began by the Lord and continued into the Acts period. How could "the Mystery" of Eph 3 or Col 1 have been revealed and expounded in Acts when the apostles were not to be interpreted as teaching different things? Surely the summary evidence of 1:10-13 is that the Corinthians were to be of one mind and Judgment because Christ's doctrine was also Peter's and Paul's and that this originated in the gospels and continued into the time of the Acts. Christ could...

In part 1 we looked at the first 9 verses of chapter 1 where we learn't a great deal about the context and economy in which Paul was labouring. Many contrasts were shown between the Acts age and ours. These were necessarily drawn in order to distinguish our own calling with the Corunthian's and to show the movement of the Spirit from His Acts signs and wonders confirmatory work to a new ministry of unveiling the Mystery.

The preaching and ministry conducted by the apostles was a continuance of what the Lord began in his earthly ministry. Indeed the Corinthians were...

Why study the book of First Corinthians? This book gives a good look into the Acts economy and to the personality of Paul. When we study this epistle we will appreciate many issues of the first ministry of Paul during a time when Israel was first and God was respecting and honouring his covenanted people, the nation of Israel. Many issues of today relate directly to the topics addressed in this epistle such as speaking in tongues 1Cor 12-14; factions within the church 1:11,12; abuses of the Lord's supper; taking of blievers to law before the unbeliever 6:1-8; food and idols...

Many who are unaccustomed to Acts 28 right division will find the teaching here, at first glance, hard to digest. One reason for this is that the teaching of Biblical doctrine has given way to and replaced by entertainment in many churches. The other reason is that Acts 28 teaching lays to rest many of the sacred cows of confessing christianity though this is not by any means the only fruit that it produces. If something is seen only in terms of negatives, that is if Acts 28 teaching is seen only in terms of denying this or denying that so that the...

We all need to ask questions as we ponder God's word. These are not to be construed as negative to your faith as are foolish and unlearned questions 2Tim. 2:23, but on the contrary should simply be a part of the method of acquiring knowledge and understanding and therefore be faith building. The right questions should lead onto edification and strength and finally to perfection. It is with this spirit that I ask these questions and hope that the Father of lights will give a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (see Eph.1:17) to each and every one of us so that with...

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About Wayne Stewart

Dr. Wayne Stewart was raised in Auckland New Zealand and studied at the University of Auckland. For a number of years Wayne taught Math and Physics in high schools in New Zealand and the USA. After marrying Sepideh in 1994, he returned with her to the University of Auckland where he studied ancient Greek and statistics.